1 Peter 4:4-6 NLT
Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead. That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead— so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.
In Jesus Christ, does my life look different now than it did when I didn’t know Jesus?
This question gets more and more important with every passing second, in light of the current events we face now with the Coronavirus.
God put it on my heart yesterday to go to the grocery store, not to shop for myself but to engage the people in the stores, especially the older people.
I was interested in how they were making out with all of this worldwide struggle with a virus that we appear far from capable of handling.
Empty shelves, people milling around, lost and confused.
I engaged them in conversation, something far out of my comfort zone. I asked them how they were doing; I asked them if they needed anything they couldn’t find.
Most of the people I spoke with were concerned with their friends and spouses who may have been sick already.
When I brought up the fact that God is in control despite all this madness, and we should have hope that this will all work according to His Will, there were mixed responses.
Some smiled, some said thank you, and some looked at me like I had three heads.
I don’t know the impact of what I did, but I know that I am called to be a light of hope for the watching world around me.
There will be two responses to an event like this:
1. There will those who will fight this with every fiber of their being.
Trying to maintain the lifestyle they have been accustomed to while being here.
They will continue to “plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do.”
They will hold tightly to this world which, by everything that we can see by this mania, is fully unprepared for an event like this and incapable of supporting the way we have been used to living.
There is a lot of fear, anger and doubt.
2. There will be those looking for a life line.
John 4:35-38 NLT
You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”
When I pulled into the parking lot at 6:59 AM, the parking lot was half full.
Doesn’t sound like a lot until held up by what it normally looks like on a Sunday morning at that time, which would have looked like this, I would have pulled in and driven right up to the front, and there would have been the five employees and me working the store at that time. But not today, today, that store was filled with people looking at the perceived lack of food. Worried about not having enough.
Hebrews 11:1 NLT
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.
As Christians, we need to be ready for this harvest. There is going to a lot of perplexed and lost people.
Far more than we have experienced in our life time.
I know this; I know God is in control even in a world out of control.
I know that people will be looking for an answer.
And that answer is…
Jesus Christ!
2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT
For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.
I encourage every believer reading this to press into Jesus Christ and to get out into the fields because they are ripe for the harvest.
There will be hearts open to what we have to offer now more than anytime in our history.
For those on the fence, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Please don’t put it off another second.
There will be a lot of people with idle time due to shut downs.
I encourage you to spend more time in the Word of God. Strengthen your mind and your heart, get your marching orders, and get stepping.
Engage those around you with the hope you have in Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father, Strengthen me with Your Word.
Let my life be a beacon of hope to those that are looking for help now.
You have made me for this time; You knew where I would be and have positioned me in a way for my maximum effectiveness if I only surrender to Your will.
Please give me the strength, courage, and willingness to counsel those around me with the Good News and to be a beacon of hope in these very dark and challenging times.
I pray for the discernment and the open eyes and heart to the needs of those around me.
But above all this, I pray that You will be glorified through all of this.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen and Amen!! 🙏❤️
